21-year-old man dead after Belvidere supplier accident

BELVIDERE — A worker at Ventra Belvidere LLC has died from injuries sustained during an industrial accident on Tuesday evening.

Jacob Frisella, 21, was pronounced dead at 11:44 a.m. at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center, the Winnebago County Coroner’s Office confirmed. His death followed “a traumatic incident” at Ventra, a vehicle signaling device manufacturer, where he was employed.

Belvidere police and fire responded to an emergency call at Ventra around 4 p.m. Tuesday, according to a statement released by the Belvidere Police Department.

Belvidere Fire Chief Dave Worrell said Frisella sustained critical injuries after becoming caught in a press. Frisella was the son of a Belvidere firefighter.

“It’s a big loss for our family here,” Worrell said.

Belvidere Police Chief Jan Noble said an OSF Lifeline helicopter was called to transport Frisella. Frisella was initially transported to SwedishAmerican Hospital in Belvidere to be stabilized and was later moved to OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford.

Repeated attempts to reach Ventra officials for comment were unsuccessful.

The accident at Ventra temporarily forced operations to cease at the assembly plant. Work resumed when parts delivery started again about 6 a.m. Wednesday, Chrysler Group LLC Spokeswoman Jodi Tinson said.

Scott Allen, an Occupational Safety and Health Administration spokesman, said that the U.S. Department of Labor sent an investigator to the scene to determine the cause of the accident and whether OSHA regulations and standards were followed.

“We’ll release a report once the investigation is complete,” Allen said.